The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI’s) environmental education and stewardship program, TurfMutt, is going to sponsor a new television program—Ready Set, Pet.
Hosted by Phil Torres and co-produced by Hearst Originals, Ready, Set, Pet is going to educate and inform teens and their families about pet adoption, responsible pet ownership and the importance of a green space for pets. In each episode, Torres is going to guide a family through the pet adoption process after a careful look at their unique situation to help them make an informed decision in finding the right pet for their lifestyle.
While the family visits local shelters and rescues, experts revitalize their outdoor space to make a safe and eco-friendly home for their new pet. In the end, viewers can see family members overcome their disagreements and make the tough decision on which pet will join the family. Ready, Set, Pet can teach viewers that thoughtful preparation is key when learning to care for an animal's needs.
Ready, Set, Pet is going to air on Saturday mornings starting this October on the CW Network. Included in each episode are going to be TurfMutt tips on the importance of our yards and managed landscapes to families, pets and the environment. Kris Kiser, the president of OPEI, is going to appear on select episodes working with professional landscapers to implement the TurfMutt tips.
“With the growing recognition of the importance of getting kids outdoors, TurfMutt is creating safe and healthy spaces for them, their families and our pets,” says Kiser. “Ready, Set Pet will help us inspire more people with our message: Green space is vital to our health. Your yard is not only an outdoor family room, but a living ecosystem that helps combat pollution, gives a home to wildlife including a wide range of inspects, birds and other pollinators, and makes us healthier and happier.”
Through the TurfMutt program, Lucky, the real-life rescue dog behind the TurfMutt cartoon character, is “pawing it forward” for other rescue dogs by championing the family yard and other green spaces.
“The TurfMutt program has reached more than 68 million children, educators and families since 2009, showing them how they can ‘save the planet one yard at a time,’” says Kiser. In conjunction with its education partner Scholastic, the youth education program educates children in grades kindergarten through fifth and their families on the importance of caring for these important green spaces.
TurfMutt is also featured in the U.S. Green Building Council’s global learning lab.
Lucky and the TurfMutt program also are proud supporters of the many rescue and adoption organizations across the U.S., and urge everyone to consider finding their new best friend from a local animal shelter or adoption center. This October, TurfMutt is also sponsoring a TurfMutt adoption event, called Mutt Madness, in partnership with the Kentucky Humane Society in Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center during the Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO), the outdoor living and equipment exposition, the industry’s trade show.
TurfMutt is an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. TurfMutt’s personal home habitat is also featured in the 2017 and the upcoming 2018 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars.
